A discourse concerning old-age tending to the instruction, caution and comfort of aged persons…

I will not contend that all Aged People excel in this Steadfastness, especially when Dotage invades Old-age; but that generally ⟨p. 108⟩it is so, and universally it should be so; and particular exceptions do always confirm general conclusions: Nor do I conclude that all young People are light and inconstant, but it is too manifest to be denied, that Childhood and Youth have usually the large Sails, but Old-age hath the solid Ballast, and and therefore doth sail more steadily and more safely. Every Wind will make impression on the Young Tree, but the Old Oak stands firm against the Storms. The young Horse may go more nimbly, but the tried Beast goes more steadfastly and surely. Youth is the unsettled age; the Head unsettled, the Heart unsettled, and the Life unsettled. When the Wise man exhorts to remember our Creator in the days of our Youth, Eccles. 12. 1. that word Youth comes of a root signifying Choice; which seems to imply, that Youth is a time wherein Persons are undetermined; they have their Religion, their Relations, their Vocation to choose; but when a man is crowned with years, then he is in a settled estate: Settled in Judgment, settled in his Purposes, settled in his Practice, and commonly settled in his Comfort: When the Apostle Paul was near his End, then he could ⟨p. 109⟩say, 2 Tim. 1. 12 I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded, &c.

I will not contend that all Aged People excell in this Stedfastness, especially when Dotage invades Old-age; but that generally ⟨p. 108⟩it is so, and universally it should be so; and particular exceptions do always confirm general conclusions: Nor do I conclude that all young People are light and inconstant, but it is too manifest to be denyed, that Childhood and Youth have usually the large Sails, but Old-age hath the solid Ballast, and and therefore doth sail more steadily and more safely. Every Wind will make impression on the Young Tree, but the Old Oak stands firm against the Storms. The young Horse may go more nimbly, but the tried Beast goes more stedfastly and surely. Youth is the unsettled age; the Head unsettled, the Heart unsettled, and the Life unsettled. When the Wise man exhorts to remember our Creator in the days of our Youth,